arrangements phrases arts crafts epicenters time...

Halloween Crafts

2010-10-13T01:03:00.001-07:00

So I have been trying to do cheap crafts more often. Here are a few, and hopefully more will follow.

Halloween Craft #1 Potato Stamp:

This one is pretty easy you just cut a potato in half and then carve a shape, just make sure not to cut yourself as you maneuver the potato.

Halloween Craft #2 Candy Corn Wreath

This is my version of a wreath from Woman's Day click here to see their instructions. Mine did not turn out looking exactly the same because I used a stack of foam plates with the center cut out instead of buying a foam circle. It doesn't look as modern, so I thought the twine would add more of a country feel to the wreath.

These are both decorations that I made with things that I either had on hand or could purchase for a minimal price. I hope you enjoy!

Austin as seen on a Bicycle

2010-07-29T14:35:00.000-07:00

This post is very late, but a few weeks ago I started using my bike to explore. One Friday I rode all the way to Town Lake. 7 miles later I was back home. Here are the photos that came out the best.

Austin as seen on

UPDATES UPDATES UPDATES

2010-07-13T19:49:00.000-07:00

So, I have not been very good about posting entries. I used to blog all the time, but I guess my life just isn't too interesting at the moment. I've been updating my website recently, trying to make it prettier that before. This is my work in progress profile:

I also finally finished the blog for my boss at flora fetish (wedding florist in Austin). I have posted previously about this design, but since then it has changed drastically.

Here is the final product (keep in mind that this is just a print screen image):

I guess that is all I have been up to lately.

Maybe I will do something more interesting soon!

Most Helpful Things

2010-06-28T17:39:00.000-07:00

More Sidebar Height Issues

2010-05-18T18:03:00.000-07:00

So I have been hanging out at Spider House Cafe lately, if you live in Austin and haven't been here then you should check it out! Anyway, yesterday I heard a mom explain dehydration to her 4ish year old son. Convo went like this:

Kid: "I feel weird, I want a soda"

Mom: "you are dehydrated you need water. It will make you feel better."

Kid after drinking some water: "wow! I do feel better, but I want a soda."

Mom: "You can't have a soda. Just drink some more water, your body is made up of water not soda."

Kid: "Weird"

I know this is a silly conversation to share, but It made me think of the imagination of kids. It blew this kids mind that he was made of water. It was cute.

On another note, I am behind on my sketch of the day drawings... As usual. I am trying to get better at sketching everyday, but first I need to catch up. So I am work

ing on two weeks at once. My idea for week 12 came from a reusable grocery bag from Germany.

Sketch of my German Bag:

The theme is "Unnatural Animal Behavior". I think it is humorous the way people can portray animals some times. Here is an example:

drawing of a cat dressed like a frog (based on an actual photo I found)

Working on it

2010-05-17T14:30:00.000-07:00

So... I've been trying to learn more and more about editing blogger. My blog is still in need of a good fix up, but the blogs I am working on for my boss are coming along well. I have found so some great help online. Anyway, just to share some of the things I've been working on, I found this site with free photoshop brushes, patterns, etc... here is the site: Ars Grafik

On this site I found this pattern:

and altered it a few times to change it to this:

I also found this step by step graphic design site that is pretty fun, but some of the processes I looked at take a LONG time. There are many short cuts if you really know photoshop well. However, it is a neat site to play around on if you have some time.

So as of now I have updated the blog I am currently working on from this:

nice but too simple

to this:

still needs work, but more memorable (hopefully)

Sketch of the Day

2010-04-27T19:59:00.000-07:00

So, I am not currently able to update my website (some problem with the FTP address). Since I can't post my sketch of the day drawings there, I have decided to start posting them here. So here are the drawings from last week:

The first three are recent sketches, the last two are drawings I found in my sketch book from a few years ago. I will start posting this week's as I draw them. Sketch of the day is my quest to draw more and share my sketches. This will include past and present sketches. I hope to post one a day, 5 days out of the week. This weeks theme is "Lines, Dots, Textures, and the Like". Enjoy!

Here is the link to my archived sketches:

Flickr Sketch of the Day Pics

5 nights and counting

2010-04-14T11:32:00.000-07:00

The last few days have gone by so quickly! I have been just relaxing, but I just realized that I went to the Alamo Drafthouse for the past 5 nights in a row! I know it sounds crazy, but the Drafthouse does alot of unique things that I really wanted to go to. Here is the line up:

Friday: "Greenberg"

The new Ben Stiller Movie. It is pretty much about someone who is looking back at life. It was kind of sad, but I liked it for what it was.

Saturday: "Date Night"

Hilarious! I love Tina Fey and Steve Carell.

Sunday: "Birdemic: Shock and Terror"

This is such a weird, and horribly-made film. All I can say is WATCH IT! It is SO bad that it's good. Watch the trailer here if you are interested.

Monday: Music Monday presentation of "Phantom of the Paradise"

Music Monday's are only $2.00 a ticket. This movie was from the late 70's, it was weird to say the least. It is kind of a take on Phantom of the Opera.

Tuesday: LOST

On Tuesday nights they air the TV show Lost for free. You just have to buy food vouchers. They always air last weeks episode and then the new episode. It is pretty amazing to see Lost on the big screen.

So, thats the breakdown of my nights. If I decide to go to the movies tonight, I will be sure to post about it. However, I might take a break.

Springtime Joy

2010-04-04T12:16:00.000-07:00

It has been so beautiful in Austin. Since I have a lot of time on my hands, I have been trying to explore, and get to know the city alittle better. So far my favorite activities for a beautiful day include: canoeing, picnicking, going to Barton Springs, reading, and taking walks around my neighborhood.

Last weekend some friends, and I dyed eggs for some Easter spirit. We ended up boiling 60 eggs, and dying the ones that didn't crack in the process. It was fun, but now we still have eggs in the fridge.
On another note, I bought a bike! It is beautiful and so fun to ride. I am still getting re-adjusted to riding a bike. I am not comfortable riding too far yet. I guess I am a wimp sometimes. The last time I rode was in Germany, and almost every ride ended badly. I blame it on the bike though, it was old with bad gears. Oh well!

I hope everyone is enjoying the weather as much as I am!

the beginning of something... not 100% sure what yet

2010-03-31T16:48:00.001-07:00

So, this is my first non-event related blog in a long time. If interested, check out my 3 other blogs:

the unfinished (hopefully I will finish this soon) blog about my 3 month road trip around the States last summer (2009):

Summer Road Trip
the finished blog about my semester abroad in Germany (Fall 2008):

Study Abroad
the ongoing blog I have with friends about our small furniture painting side business

Bat City Furniture

I currently live in Austin, Tx, and have been wanting to blog about the goings on of my life. Being unemployed/searching for a job, I have a lot of time to work on some design projects including my website, sketches, paintings & Bat City Furniture. I hope to share them here with whoever is interested.

Hope you enjoy!